Spatial and Temporal Dynamics of Aonidiella aurantii in Orange Orchards: Implications for Control in the Subtropical Region

The California red scale, Aonidiella aurantii, is a destructive pest of citrus crops, necessitating effective management strategies. This study evaluated the efficacy of insecticidal treatments combining mineral oil with various active ingredients (chlorpyrifos-methyl, dimethoate, buprofezin, and imidacloprid) against A. aurantii populations across different tree levels and seasons. Results revealed that mineral oil + dimethoate consistently exhibited the highest reduction, up to 97.23% and 96.37% at the bottom level after 21 days in the first and second seasons, respectively. Mineral oil + chlorpyrifos-methyl also showed promising reductions up to 94.15% and 96.01%. Treatments with buprofezin and imidacloprid exhibited relatively lower efficacy but still achieved significant reductions. The percentage reductions generally increased over time, indicating progressive effectiveness. Variations in efficacy among treatments and tree levels were attributable to factors such as mode of action, penetration, and microhabitat preferences. These integrated approaches show potential for controlling A. aurantii, but environmental implications and resistance development should be considered. Future research should explore long-term efficacy, compatibility with biological control agents, and resistance management strategies to develop sustainable integrated pest management programs for A. aurantii in orange production.